Since I've moved to Central Illinois, I'm stepping out from the Three-Eyed Fish persona and writing as plain old John Palen. I'm happy to find that other journalists in my new home are taking care of Three-Eyed Fish's function very well. So this new blog will simply be an introduction to me as a writer, with occasional updates about what I'm working on and publishing.
Basically I've been a journalist and a poet, although I've been writing short fiction since 2008. I've published a number of collections of poetry, some no longer in print. Here are three that are in print and can be obtained from the publishers, or from me by emailing me at japalen@aol.com for more information.
-- Drizzle and Plum Blossoms: Four Poets of the Song Dynasty. With Li C. Tien. March Street Press 2009. A chapbook of translations.
-- Harry Truman All the Way. Pudding House Publications, 2008. A chapbook.
-- Open Communion: New and Selected Poems. Mayapple Press. 2005. A full-length collection.
I've been publishing poems in little magazines and journals for more than 40 years, including one Pushcart nomination. I have recent work in or forthcoming in Clapboard House, Off the Coast, Ragazine, Bare Root Review, Temenos, and Jelly Bucket. A collection of short stories is due to come out from Mayapple Press in January 2012.
As a journalist I worked for newspapers in Missouri, Illinois and Michigan, and taught journalism at Central Michigan University for 26 years, before retiring in May 2009.
Enough for starters. More later.
